High Court: Albany County Cyberbullying Law Invalid

New York's highest court has ruled that a local cyberbullying law in Albany County violates Constitutional free speech protections.

Tuesday’s Court of Appeals ruling involves the case of a high school student who anonymously posted photographs of fellow students on Facebook along with personal details and offensive descriptions of their supposed sexual beahvior.

The teen was charged with violating a 2010 county law prohibiting cyberbullying.

The court ruled that while the teen's actions were "repulsive," the county law is overly broad since the First Amendment protects even "embarrassing" or "annoying" speech.

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy agrees Local Law ‘C’ - needs clarification: "I believe that we’re on the right track and that we can work together to craft a law that both protects free speech but most importantly keeps our kids safe.” McCoy further noted "I also want to note that the process has brought significant public attention to the growing problem of cyber bullying and our efforts to reduce cyberbullying in Albany County. I believe that we are on the right track..."

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A protest was held today outside a western Massachusetts high school to draw attention to alleged anti-Islamic bullying.

About 50 people, most of them college students, stood in a steady rain on the sidewalk in front of West Springfield High School for about half-an-hour on Wednesday holding signs denouncing bullying and bigotry. They were joined by three Muslim sisters who claim they’ve been harassed at school because of their religious beliefs.

" I've been called terrorist, towel head in my class," said Najma Hussein.

Cyberbullying is on the rise locally and nationally - many parents have lost young teens who chose to end their lives rather than face constant harassment on social media. But Albany County's groundbreaking law against Cyberbullying is being hauled before an appellate court, for a third time.

Albany, NY – New York Lawmakers have passed a bill that provides youth charged with "cyberbullying" or "sexting" an option other than a permanent criminal record. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.

Albany, NY – Cyberbullying is the repeated use of information technology to deliberately harass, threaten or intimidate others. The Albany County Legislature is taking a look at the issue when it meets tonight. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.

As a teenager author Susane Colasanti was bullied by her peers and didn’t have anyone to turn to for help.

Since then she has decided to use her experiences as a base for her novel Keep Holding On, where we learn that it does get better, it’s ok to let your freak flag fly, and help is available if you mutter the courage to ask for help.

The Massachusetts House has approved a bill designed to build on the state's 2010 anti-bullying law in part by strengthening protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and students with disabilities.

The bill passed 143-4 on Wednesday. It would create new reporting measures and recognize certain populations as more vulnerable to bullying.

The 2010 law was designed to crack down on bullying and cyberbullying and require schools to establish anti-bullying programs.

"I am a bully," it reads. "I pick on children that are disabled, and I am intolerant of those that are different from myself. My actions do not reflect an appreciation for the diverse South Euclid community that I live in."

That sign was displayed next to a busy roadside in a Cleveland suburb Sunday by Edmond Aviv, after a court found that he had abused his neighbors with racial slurs and vandalism that sometimes included dog feces.